Common Veteran Scams and How to Avoid Them

Recognize fake government programs and protect your savings as fraud continues to skyrocket

Christina Ianzito,

Updated July 28, 2026

AARP

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En español

Updated July 28, 2026

Key takeaways

Military members, veterans and their families reported losing $685 million to fraud in 2025, up from $583 million in 2024.
Criminals often pose as government agencies, charities, landlords or employers to steal money, benefits or personal information.
Veterans can reduce risk by using trusted VA resources, protecting personal data and verifying offers before acting.

Active-duty service members, National Guard personnel, veterans, and their families reported losing $685 million to fraud in 2025, according to more than 99,000 consumer complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s up from a reported $583 million lost in 2024 — and still likely only a fraction of the actual amount stolen, because fraud so often goes unreported.

Criminals target current and former service members from many angles, employing vet-focused twists on identity theft, loan scams, investment fraud and more.

It’s important to learn how these scams work and to protect yourself from money loss and identity theft.

Common ways scammers target veterans

These are a sampling of the wide range of schemes, which are constantly evolving (and made more sophisticated with the help of AI).

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Promises of government funds. Veterans are told they qualify for benefits or money from “secret” government programs, but must first pay a fee or provide personal information. The VA will never charge you to apply for benefits.

Claims of suspicious account activity. Someone may call to say that your bank account has been compromised and that their funds need to be moved to a more secure account.

Cash offers for service members’ benefits.  Scammers exploit veterans in financial duress by offering cash up front in exchange for (much higher) future disability or pension payments. (The Perfect Scam podcast has a two-part episode about a veteran who was offered money for his disability benefits.)

Unnecessary fees for documents. Criminals attempt to charge veterans for access to their service records or for government forms. Veterans can get this material for free from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the National Archives. In another benefits scheme, unscrupulous advisers sell older veterans on plans to boost their pensions by investing in financial products that make it appear they have fewer assets. The advisers often do not warn veterans that the moves could disqualify them from government help, including Medicaid, and strictly limit their access to their money.

Pension-boosting offers. Unscrupulous advisers sell older veterans on plans to boost their pensions by investing in financial products that make it appear they have fewer assets. The advisers often do not warn veterans that the moves could disqualify them from government assistance, including Medicaid, and severely limit their access to their own money.

Bogus military charities hit up former service members for donations.

Impersonations of the VA or other government officials. They may ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers, saying they need to update the veteran’s records. The VA will not ask for personal information by phone, text or email.

Rental scams. Ads promise discounts for veterans and active-duty military. Targets are instructed to wire money as a security deposit for a nonexistent property.

Fake ads. A job ad recruits veterans for “previously undisclosed” federal government posts.

Fake discounts. Criminals, sometimes posing as soon-to-be-deployed service members, try to entice veterans with “special” deals on cars, electronics and other products. After payment is wired, the seller disappears, and the goods never arrive.

Assistance with settlement claims. Fakers will claim they can help veterans receive funds related to the “Camp Lejeune settlement.” The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, part of the PACT Act, allows vets and their survivors to pursue compensation if they developed serious illnesses from water contamination at Camp Lejeune, a training facility in North Carolina.

Notices of unclaimed life insurance money. A self-described lawyer says one of their clients has died and left the veteran a life insurance policy worth millions. “Don’t respond,” the FTC says. “This is not a letter from a lawyer — it’s from a scammer.”

Misleading health insurance offers. The VA’s Military Consumer blog warns that some “shady companies will try to make you think you’re buying health insurance when it’s really a medical discount plan.”

How to protect yourself from these scams

Hang up if you get an unsolicited call that purports to be from the VA.

Use VA-accredited representatives to help you with benefits issues. The VA maintains a searchable database of attorneys, claims agents and veterans service organizations (VSOs).

Research properties offered for sale or rent to veterans at a discount at MilitaryByOwner.com, and check online property records to verify ownership.

Confirm that a veterans charity is legitimate before donating. Check it with evaluators such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.

Don't share sensitive information such as credit card details or your Social Security number unless it's absolutely necessary.

Never pay for copies of your military records — you can get them for free through the VA — or to apply for benefits.

Keep your service information private. Don’t allow someone else to access your information from the VA without an authorized power of attorney.

Avoid jobs on employment boards if the position requires you to pay or supply credit card or banking information.

What to do if you are targeted

If you’ve been victimized by a veterans-related scam, report it to your local police and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Contact your state’s Veterans Affairs office for credible information on qualifying for benefits.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a fraud education site, VSAFE.gov, and a Fraud Hotline at 833-38V-SAFE (833-388-7233).

The federal government’s Military Consumer website has free resources to help veterans, service members and others in the military community fight fraud and make informed financial decisions.

AARP has a Guide to Spotting and Avoiding Scams for veterans and military families. You can call the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, to speak with trained specialists who can provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams.

This story has been updated with new statistics and information about the latest scams.

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The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Christina Ianzito covers scams and fraud, and is the books editor for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine.